Vancouver-

When he moved into his urban neighborhood, Barry Devonald was surprised to be greeted by a whole host of new neighbors.

“I thought it was a bit unusual,” Barry admits.

Until it became quite common for Barry to visit the chickens that lived on the street during his daily walks, which led to amusing discussions.

“I’ll call him,” Barry said, leaning over to call over a neighbor’s fence, before imitating the bird’s songs and laughing.

“Bwak-bwak-bwak.” And then (the chicken) says, “Bwak-bwak-bwak!” »

Since Barry isn’t as chicken-savvy as he seems, we’ll let the bird’s owner introduce us.

“It’s Silver Bright,” Thomas Dickau said as he cradled the bird while gently stroking its black and white feathers.

“She’s almost nine years old, pretty old for a hen.”

Thomas and his family first encountered Silver Bright when she was very young, part of a quartet of clucks that they began raising in a cardboard container inside their home.

“We bought it just for fun,” Thomas said, showing photos of his son smiling and taking care of the chicks. “We thought it would be fun to have chickens.”

Poultry have proven to be perfect pets. Even after moving outside to live in a chicken coop that Thomas had built for them, the chickens hung out with the adults while they worked in the yard and played with the children on sunny days.

“He’s a people person,” Thomas said, noting how Silver Bright likes to spend time in the area where the fence meets the sidewalk.

“She’s hilarious. She just goes out front and waits for people.

And so many people – like Barry – began visiting Silver Bright regularly that Thomas built a bench on the boulevard for them to sit and spend time with the chickens.

“It’s really good that they did that,” Barry says, sitting on the bench, where he often feeds the bird.

“It’s relaxing.”

“Many parents will tell us that it is by visiting the chickens that they get their children out of the house,” smiles Thomas. “Or it’s the main event (of their children’s day).”

Chickens became so many people’s feathered friends that when Silver Bright’s sisters finally passed away, people left notes of condolence on the fence and expressed gratitude for the meaningful moments the birds had inspired.

“(When you) sit and pause, you notice things within yourself with wonder,” smiles Thomas. “And it’s such a lovely thing.”

But what’s even better, says Barry, is when those breaks on the bench with the chickens lead to a comical conversation.

“Bwak-bwak-bwak,” Barry smiles, while imitating what he says to the birds. “The average chicken would fall over laughing if they heard that.”